Friday, August 11, 2017

The first Tesla Model 3's rolled off their lot last Friday. Ecstatic Tesla and SpaceX employees walked over to their new Model 3 charging at the on-site supercharger at the Fremont Factory.

Shortly after, I was on my Tesla Model 3 Facebook Group, and the first screenshots of the configurator showed up from those who were next in line to order their Model 3. For the next few days, my Facebook notifications went haywire with new posts -- people posting to ask advice on colour choices, and others posting asking all the questions we've had for the last 16 months about the Model 3.

Elon Musk warned us at the last annual Tesla shareholder's meeting that he first Model 3's released will have very little versatility in configuration choices. In his words, "You'll get to choose the colour and wheel size -- and that's about it." So it should be no surprise that Tesla Motors made decisions about which version of the Model 3 to offer first -- and it would not be the $35K base model. That just wouldn't make the splash they want.

For the whole run down of specs, take a look at the Press Kit on Tesla's webpage. It includes the expected price for any added features. I'll make a separate post to outline the key offerings that I find interesting.

To my fellow Model 3 Reservation Holders, how are you holding up? Excited?

Now before anyone goes off on a rant about the fact that they were driving at a unbearably low speed of only 40 kph (around 25 mph), this is not about inflating range reports on the Tesla. The EPA rating stands because it's based on real life usage, and no one is arguing against it.

But this proves a point -- range on EVs are not the same as on gasoline cars.

It seems a driver would have more control over range in an EV than in a gasoline car. Electricity doesn't behave the same way as combustion. If you learn how energy is spent and harvested in an EV, range anxiety is ultimately more troublesome in a gas car. Teslas will even run the diagnostics and give you the option to enter a more efficient range option if needed. (Other car companies need to catch up in this).

And for those just curious about the experiment, here's the youtube clip for your enjoyment!

Friday, August 4, 2017

There's no mystery in owning a new gasoline car. Gas station trips and car maintenance are all same regardless of what car I buy. But EVs require a different mindset. Easier or more cumbersome depends on each person. If you have a house and are willing to install a charger at home, it's probably great. If you don't, then the decision gets more complicated.

So when I think about someone just at the beginning of their EV exploration and wondering how they will manage, I wonder if actually using one for a week would be a much better approach to overcoming the myths of EV ownership, like range anxiety or charging times -- key issues that make switching to an EV a mystery. After all, I did a test run in a Model S, and as sweet as it was to feel regenerative braking and self-parking, it was far from a real experience. Issues like regular charging can't be experienced until you have one for yourself.

I am a first-day Model 3 registration holder living on the west coast of Canada. So I'm hoping that I'll be a handful of the first Model 3 owners in my city. And with the news of the Model 3 quickly spreading and garnering interest, presenting the opportunity to rent my Model 3 for a week may give someone a clearer sense of the daily life adjustments needed when you own an EV.

And of course, now that I see the real cost of the Model 3 (not that I'm surprised, but it's a little more jarring when you see the number in print), renting out may be the financial help I'm needing.

Benefits:

1. Opportunities to engage in discussion about my personal experience as an EV owner.
2. Extra income to help pay off my EV purchase.
3. Tesla will create the fanfare needed to make people notice the Model 3. I just need to piggy-back my marketing off of theirs!
4. A system is in place already if I use Turo.

Concerns:

1. The risk of abuse by someone using my precious new Model 3!
2. Risk of a major "write-off" accident. Thanks to the long list of reservation holders, I wouldn't be able to replace it for a long, long time.
3. Paying higher insurance premiums for third-party rental coverage (Turo doesn't extend coverage to Canadians. lame.).